What a band. What an album. (London Calling - The Clash)

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Product:	London Calling - The Clash
Date:	30/10/02 (240 review reads)
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With this stunnig double album The Clash proved themselves to be the most rare of species; A musically versatile punk band. Whereas The Ramones released 4 amazing but identical albums and The Sex Pistols only had the mileage for one awe-inspiring LP, The Clash run ahead of the challengers with this.

It unfortunately starts with my least favourite song, London Calling. It's unusually edgy for such a laid back album and stands out like a sore thumb.

The stuttering Shadows-esque intro of Brand New Cadillac is very funky and it is a nice little song.

Up until now there is nothing to tell you that this is in anyway special. Jimmy Jazz tells you that. So laid back it's almost comatose. Sparse guitar and chunking bass combine to create something wonderful.

The start of Hateful sounds suspiciously like a Barn dance tune but turns out brilliantly.

How could a white band produce something as ultimately reggae as Rudie Can't Fail? You have to keep reminding yourself that you're not listening to Lee Perry or Peter Tosh. Needless to say it's great.

The first overtly political song on the album is Spanish Bombs which is very much like something the International Brigade would sing marching through Catalonia.

The Right Profile is sheer quality but doesn't stand out on an album so packed with class.

The best lyric on the album is Lost In The Supermarket. A tender tune sung by Mick Jones on the consumerist society we live in.

There is a distinct pop sensibility running throughout this album that is shown particularly on Clampdown which sounds a bit like The Locomotion but is extremely beautiful.

Ok, Guns Of Brixton HAS to be Jamaican. Paul Simonen's bass is just out and out reggae. It's very dark and kinda breaks the continuity on the record but is compelling enough.

This is the point where the record becomes a blur. But such a wonderfully rich and tune
ful blur i could listen to any day. It flows together seamlessly.

Wrong 'Em Boyo, Death Or Glory, Koka Kola, The Card Cheat, Lover's Rock, I'm Not Down and Four Horsemen are all similar and all stunningly good.

Revolution Rock is a triumphant sneer, a gloriously, optimistic and angry track that will have you singing and dancing around your room. "TO THE CRUELEST MASTERS IN ALL KINGSTOWN!" (yes, I know they're not from the Caribbean)

And finally, the anti-love song of the century, Train In Vain. If ever you've been rejected, dumped or messed around with by a girl put this on full blast and sing along. It's a great cure.

What a band. What an album.

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